Sanitary tooth brush holder



April 14, 1936. L A

SANITARY TOOTH BRUSH HOLDER Filed May 15, 1934 vvuantoi LA/we/vc file m Patented Apr. 14, 1936 SANITARY TOOTH BRUSH HOLDER Lawrence Fahn, North Plainfield, N. .1, assignor to Ralph H. Held, North- Plainfield, N. J.

Application May 15, 1934, Serial No. 725,729 4 Claims. (01. 312 -1125) This invention relates to improvements in sanitary'tooth brush holders.

The primary object of the invention resides in a' tooth brush holder for attachment to the bathroom 'wall'for supporting one or a plurality of tooth brushes in a clean and sanitary manner. Another object of the invention is the provision. of a tooth brush holder in which the brush head of individual tooth brushes are enclosedin transparent hoods to guard against-accidental contact of the brush heads during attachment or removal from the support to avaid the spread of contagious diseases from the user of one tooth brush to the user of the other brushes.

A further object of the invention is to provide individual hoods which are suspended in a manher to facilitate the easy insertion of the brush head thereinto through the open bottoms and their removal therefrom, and after insertion into the hoods the brush heads rest upon a ledge aboutt-he open bottom with the handle portions extending therefrom. 2

Another feature of the invention is to provide-an individualbrush receiving hood which is open at opposite ends for cleaning purposes, the upper 'end being normally closed by a cap which acts as a medium for supporting the hood in position upon a bracket when in use.

A still furthereobject of the invention resides ina sanitary tooth brush holder which is simple of construction, inexpensive of manufacture and attractive in appearance.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of the parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described in the following specification, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my sanitary tooth brush holder designed for supporting three tooth brushes, one of the holder elements being shown as swung forward to facilitate the insertion or removal of a tooth brush.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view with parts in section.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one holder element with the parts in separated position.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of cap.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral l designates an attaching bracket which includesa flat plate I! having openings l2' therein through which screws l3 pass for securing the bracket to a bath room wall or like supporting structure A. The tooth brush holder may be constructed for supporting any particular number of tooth brushes and in Figure 1 of the draWing,;I have illustrated three in-' dividual tooth brush holders, but more or less may be provided if desired. Fixedly secured and extending forwardly of the plate I l are spaced flat hooks M from which are suspended the brush holders shown in their entirety as at 15. In view of the fact that all of the holders l5 are of iden- A tical construction, a description of one will suffice for the other.

Each holder l5 includes a glass tube or body I6 which is substantially of a uniform diameter throughout its length, the upper end of the glass body being formed with an external bead [1, while formed at the lower end of the tube externally is an inwardly extending ledge I8 which provides the lower or bottom end of the tube with a restricted opening l9.

Fitted to the open topend of the tube l6 and closing the same, is a closure cap 2!] preferably constructed of metal, while bent downwardly from thesides and rear of the cap are inwardly curved flanges 2|. The side flanges 2| are disposed, slightly forward of the axial center of the cap'and are yieldable'so'that the open top of the tube 16 may be associated with the cap by sliding the bead past the side flanges 2| until the bead l'l strikes the rear flange 2| which'rear flange acts as a stop. Thus it will be seen that the cap is associated with the open top of the tube I6 and normally closes the same. The cap 20 is provided with air openings 22 to facilitate ventilation through the length of the tube l6. Bent from the center of the cap 20 and extending outwardly therefrom, is a substantially flat elongated eye 23 which is engaged by the hook l4 so that the hood l5 or holder is suspended from the attaching bracket.

By reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be noted that the brush holder may be swung forwardly and rearwardly but not laterally by reason of the flat hook and eye connection between the cap and the attaching bracket and when swung to this position, the opening !9 in the bottom of the glass tube is exposed tothe view of a person when inserting the brush head B of a tooth brush C into the tube l6. After the full insertion of the brush head into the tube, the handle of the brush may be released, whereupon the tube I 6 will assume a vertical position as shown in Figure 3 and the brush will be supported by reason of the inner bristles of the brush head resting upon the ledge l8. To remove a tooth brush from the holder, it is only necessary to grasp the handle of the tooth brush and pull outwardly thereon. By pivotally suspending the holders against lateral movement, they are pre- Vented from swinging into contact with each other, thus rendering the possibility of break age.

By reason of the novel construction set forth, the device may be kept in a clean and sanitary condition. When it is desired to clean the tube I 6, it is only necessary to unhook the cap 20 from the hook I 4, and then slide the tube 16 from engagement with the cap 20. The inside of the glass tube l6 may be thoroughly cleaned by passing a cleaning agent therethrough, or the glass and the metal cap may be thoroughly sterilized when in separated condition as shown in Figure 5 of the drawing.

By providing an opening in the lower end of the glass tube 16 and the opening 20 in the cap, the inside of the tube is ventilated to effect drying out of the bristles of the brush after use, and while in position within the holder.

Although I have illustrated the bill of the hook H in an open position, it will be understood that the same may be bent into an eye and the cap 20 permanently fastened to the supporting bracket.

In Figure 6 I have illustrated a slightly modifled form of cap 24 which is substantially identical to the cap 20 with the exception that a continuous inwardly curved flange 25 extends entirely around the rear side of the cap and partially around opposite sides thereof, the same being resilient and serving to receive the bead I! in substantially the same manner as the flanges 2| shown in the preferred form.

The holder tubes 16 are preferably constructed of glass for transparent and sanitary reasons, but they may be made of other materials transparent or non-transparent and in various colors so as to distinguish one users holder tube from another.

Should any moisture accumulate upon the inner walls of the tube IS, the same will drain downwardly through the opening l9 and there will be no accumulation upon the ledge H! as it extends inwardly and downwardly.

While I have shown and described what I deem to be the most practical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:-

1. A sanitary tooth brush holder comprising an attaching bracket, a cylindrical transparent member open throughout its length, an external bead at one end of said member, a cap member connected to said bracket, and inturned flange means at the marginal edge of said cap for engagement with said bead for removably connecting said cap and member together.

2. A sanitary tooth brush holder comprising an attaching bracket, a tubular glass container open at opposite ends, an annular bead formed on the top of said glass container, a flat disk cover, flanges on the peripheral edge of said cover and engageable with said head for laterally sliding one relative to the other, and means for swingably suspending said cap from said bracket.

3. A sanitary tooth brush holder comprising in combination, an attaching bracket, a tubular member normally disposed in a vertical position and having its opposite ends open, the opening at the lower end being restricted to permit the forcible insertion of the bristle end of a tooth brush wholly into said tubular member, a bead extending exteriorly about said tubular member at the top thereof, a cap member connected to said bracket for suspending the same therefrom, and resilient inturned flanges at the marginal edge of said cap for engagement with said bead for removably connecting said cap and member together.

' 4. A sanitary tooth brush holder comprising in combination, an attaching plate, a flat hook extending outwardly from said plate, a tubular holder member normally disposed in a vertical position and having its opposite ends open, the opening at the lower end being restricted to permit the forcible insertion of the bristle end of a tooth brush to be wholly inserted therein, a cap member having an upstanding substantially flat elongated eye engaging said flat hook, and releasable engaging means between the cap and the top of said holder member for detachably connecting the same together.

' LAWRENCE FAHN. 

